Projectile toy

ABSTRACT

A projectile toy may include an elongate body that may extend from a forward end to a rearward end and have a length. The projectile toy may include an elongate sheet of material that may have a first end attached to a forward region of the elongate body. The elongate sheet of material may be longer than the elongate body and may extend from the first end to a distal end beyond the rearward end of the elongate body. The projectile toy may be configured as an action figure, which may include a body having shoulders and legs and an elongate sheet of material that may be attached to the body at the shoulders and may extend to beyond the legs.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/687,934, filed Jun. 6, 2005. The complete disclosure of the above-identified patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to projectile toys and, more particularly, to projectile toys suitable for throwing wherein the toy includes a thrown element configured to represent a caped flying figure.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Examples of projectile toys are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,368,815; 3,393,911; 3,983,660; 4,294,447; 4,657,253; 4,696,472; 4,826,179; 5,112,061; 5,230,650; 5,310,194; 5,813,931; 6,083,128; 6,733,405; D435872; and Re. 34,032. The disclosures of these and all other publications referenced herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one example, an action figure that has a body that may include shoulders and legs. The body may have a length. The action figure may include an elongate sheet of material that may be attached to the body at both the shoulders and the legs. The elongate sheet may extend from the shoulders to beyond the legs. The elongate sheet may have a length greater than the length of the body.

In one example, a projectile toy may include an elongate body that extends from a forward end to a rearward end and has a length and a maximum width. The projectile toy may include an elongate sheet of material that may have a first end attached to a forward region of the elongate body. The elongate sheet may extend a length from the first end to a distal end beyond the rearward end of the elongate body. The length of the elongate sheet may be greater than the length of the elongate body. The elongate sheet may have at least one width that is greater than the maximum width of the elongate body.

In one example, a projectile toy may include an elongate body that extends from a forward end to a rearward end and has a length. The projectile toy may include an elongate sheet of material that may have a first end attached to a forward region of the elongate body. The elongate sheet of material may extend a length from the first end to a distal end beyond the rearward end of the elongate body. The length of the elongate sheet may be at least twice the length of the elongate body. The elongate body may include at least one member that may extend forward of the attachment of the elongate sheet to the elongate body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a projectile toy.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the projectile toy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates one exemplary method of using the projectile toy of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An illustrative example of a projectile toy is shown generally at 20 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Unless otherwise specified, projectile toy 20 may, but is not required to, contain at least one of the structure, components, functionality, and/or variations described and/or illustrated herein. Projectile toy 20 may include an elongate body 22 and an elongate sheet of material 24, which may be attached to elongate body 22.

Elongate body 22 may extend a length L1 from a first or forward end 32 to a second or rear end 34, as shown in FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the length L1 of elongate body 22 may be greater than a maximum width W1 of elongate body 22. For example, width W1 may be less than about 50% of length L1, width W1 may be less than about 33% of length L1, or width W1 may even be less than about 25% of length L1.

Elongate body 22 may be at least partially flattened such that a thickness T1 of elongate body 22, shown in FIG. 2, may be less than width W1 of elongate body 22. For example, thickness T1 of elongate body 22 may be less than about 75% of width W1 of elongate body 22, less than about 50% of width W1 of elongate body 22, or even less than about 30% of width W1 of elongate body 22.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, projectile toy 20 may be configured as an action figure 40. When projectile toy 20 is configured as an action figure 40, at least a portion of elongate body 22 may be configured to resemble at least a portion of a humanoid shape. As used herein, humanoid shape refers to a humanoid body, which should be understood to include any bipedal animal, whether real or fictional, such as, for example, one having arms and hands with opposable thumbs. For example, at least a portion of a forward region 42 of elongate body 22 may be configured to resemble an upper region of a humanoid body, such as shoulders 44. For example, at least a portion of a rearward region 46 of elongate body 22 may be configured to resemble a lower region of a humanoid body, such as one or more legs 48. In some embodiments, rearward region 46 may include a pair of elongate members 50, which may be configured to resemble a pair of legs 48. In some embodiments, rearward region 46 may include a single member 50 that is configured to resemble a pair of legs 48.

In some embodiments, elongate body 22 may include an outer shell 52, which may be stuffed or otherwise filled with a suitable filler material 53. Outer shell 52 may be fabricated from any suitable material, such as a flexible material. Suitable materials for outer shell 52 may include, for example, a fabric or other pliable material. In some embodiments, such as where outer shell 52 includes a fabric, outer shell 52 may be at least partially stitched or otherwise sewn into a suitable shape. For example, outer shell 52 may include a plurality of fabric sections 54, which may be joined at sewn joints 55. Suitable filler materials 53 may include natural or man-made materials, such as materials which may be at least partially fibrous.

In some embodiments, elongate body 22 may include at least one weight or other ballast 56 disposed therein. Ballast 56 may be disposed within elongate body 22 at any suitable location, such as a location chosen to provide suitable flying qualities for projectile toy 20. For example, ballast 56 may be disposed in forward region 42 of elongate body 22, such as proximate shoulders 44, such that elongate body 22 may tend to fly forward end 32 first.

In some embodiments, elongate body 22 may include at least one member 60 that extends forward of the attachment 62 of elongate sheet 24 to elongate body 22. For example, one or more of member 60 may be configured to resemble an arm 64, which may be configured as an outstretched arm 66, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and/or one or more of member 60 may be configured to resemble a head 68, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In some embodiments, at least a portion 70 of member 60 may be fabricated from a molded plastic. Portion 70 may be fabricated using any suitable process such as injection molding, or the like. Portion 70 may be fabricated from any suitable plastic, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), or the like. Exemplary portions 70 of member 60 that may be fabricated from a molded plastic may include at least a portion of arm 64, such as hand 72, and/or at least a portion of head 68, such as a face.

Elongate sheet 24 may extend a length L2 from a first end 76 to a distal end 78, as shown in FIG. 1. The first end 76 of elongate sheet 24 may be attached to the forward region 56 of elongate body 22, such as proximate shoulders 58, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Elongate sheet 24 may extend along elongate body 22 to distal end 78, which may be beyond the second end 34 of elongate body 22. For example, elongate sheet 24 may be configured to resemble a cape 80 attached to the shoulders 58 of action figure 40 and extending to beyond the legs 62 of action figure 40.

The length L2 of elongate sheet 24 may be longer than the length L1 of elongate body 22. For example, length L2 may be at least about one-and-a-half times length L1, at least twice length L1, at least about three times length L1, at least about four times length L1, or even at least about five times length L1.

Elongate sheet 24 may have at least one width, such as a maximum width W2. At least a portion of elongate sheet 24 may be wider than elongate body 22. For example, at least one width of elongate sheet 24, such as width W2, may be larger than the maximum width W1 of elongate body 22.

The elongate sheet 24 may include first and second lateral edges 86, 88. The first and second lateral edges 86, 88 may extend from the first end 76 of elongate sheet 24 to the distal end 78 of elongate sheet 24. In some embodiments, the first and second lateral edges 86, 88 may extend from the distal end 78 of elongate sheet 24 to the attachment 62 of elongate sheet 24 to elongate body 22. The first and second lateral edges 86, 88 may comprise unrestrained edges over substantially the entire length of lateral edges 86, 88, such as where elongate sheet is configured to resemble a cape 80 attached to action figure 40. In some embodiments, the first and second lateral edges 86, 88 may hemmed. For example, the elongate sheet may be fabricated from two opposing gores or triangular pieces of material that may be sewn together along lateral edges 86, 88.

In some embodiments, elongate sheet 24 may additionally be attached to elongate body 22 at a second location 90. Second location 90 may be on a rearward region 46 of elongate body 22, such as legs 48, such that the rearward region 46 of elongate body 22 is attached to elongate sheet 24 at a point 92 that is intermediate first end 76 and distal end 78. For example, elongate sheet 24 may be attached to elongate body 22 at both shoulders 44 and legs 48.

An exemplary method of launching projectile toy 20, such as centrifugally, is shown generally at 100 in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, a user 102 may grasp elongate sheet 24, such as proximate distal end 78, and swing the projectile toy 20 with a rotational action, as indicated by arrow 104. At a suitable time, such as one determined by user 102, user 102 may release distal end 78, allowing projectile toy 20 to fly away from user 102, such as in a direction indicated by arrow 106.

It is believed that the disclosure set forth herein encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein. Similarly, where the claims recite “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.

It is believed that the following claims particularly point out certain combinations and subcombinations that are directed to one of the disclosed inventions and are novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to a different invention or directed to the same invention, whether different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of the inventions of the present disclosure. 

1. An action figure, comprising: a body having shoulders and legs, the body having a length; and an elongate sheet of material attached to the body at both the shoulders and the legs, the elongate sheet extending from the shoulders to beyond the legs, and the elongate sheet having a length greater than the length of the body.
 2. The action figure of claim 1, wherein the elongate sheet is at least twice the length of the body.
 3. The action figure of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the elongate sheet is wider than the body.
 4. The action figure of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a flexible outer shell stuffed at least partially with a fibrous filler material.
 5. The action figure of claim 4, wherein the flexible outer shell comprises a plurality of fabric sections joined at sewn joints.
 6. The action figure of claim 1, wherein the elongate sheet of material comprises a fabric.
 7. The action figure of claim 1, wherein the body has a molded plastic head.
 8. The action figure of claim 1, wherein the body has at least one molded plastic hand.
 9. A projectile toy, comprising: an elongate body extending from a forward end to a rearward end and having a length and a maximum width; and an elongate sheet of material having a first end attached to a forward region of the elongate body and extending along the elongate body to a distal end beyond the rearward end of the elongate body, wherein a length of the elongate sheet from the first end to the distal end is greater than the length of the elongate body and the elongate sheet has at least one width that is greater than the maximum width of the elongate body.
 10. The projectile toy of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the elongate body is configured to resemble at least a portion of a humanoid shape, wherein a rearward region of the elongate body comprises a pair of elongate members configured to resemble legs.
 11. The projectile toy of claim 9, wherein the length of the elongate sheet is at least twice the length of the elongate body.
 12. The projectile toy of claim 9, wherein the elongate body comprises a flexible outer shell stuffed with a filler material.
 13. The projectile toy of claim 9, wherein a rearward region of the elongate body is attached to the elongate sheet at a point intermediate the first end and the distal end.
 14. The projectile toy of claim 9, wherein the length of the elongate body is at least three times the maximum width of the elongate body.
 15. The projectile toy of claim 9, wherein the elongate sheet comprises first and second lateral edges extending between the first end and the distal end.
 16. A projectile toy, comprising: an elongate body extending from a forward end to a rearward end and having a length; and an elongate sheet of material having a first end attached to a forward region of the elongate body and extending along the elongate body to a distal end beyond the rearward end of the elongate body, wherein a length of the elongate sheet from the first end to the distal end is at least twice the length of the elongate body, wherein the elongate body includes at least one member that extends forward of the attachment of the elongate sheet to the elongate body.
 17. The projectile toy of claim 16, wherein the elongate body is configured to resemble a humanoid shape, and a rearward region of the elongate body is configured to resemble legs.
 18. The projectile toy of claim 17, wherein one or more of the at least one member is configured to resemble an outstretched arm.
 19. The projectile toy of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the outstretched arm is at least partially fabricated from a molded plastic.
 20. The projectile toy of claim 17, wherein one or more of the at least one member is configured to resemble a head.
 21. The projectile toy of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of the head is at least partially fabricated from a molded plastic.
 22. The projectile toy of claim 16, wherein a portion of the forward region of the elongate body is configured to resemble shoulders and the elongate sheet of material is configured to resemble a cape attached to the shoulders.
 23. The projectile toy of claim 22, wherein the elongate sheet is additionally attached to the legs.
 24. The projectile toy of claim 16, wherein the elongate body comprises a fabric outer shell stuffed with a fibrous filler material. 